This mammal is actually a member of the Tayassuidae family and not a pig, although it does look like one at times. It runs on the middle two toes of each foot and can reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. In this video, one collard peccary bolts down the sidewalk. These animals are usually herd animals, living in groups of 10-15. There is a dominant male at the top of the hierarchy and the other members of the herd follow his lead. In this case, one collard peccary was running on its own. In this video, the javelina runs past apartment buildings, jumps over sidewalks to stay on the manicured grass, and races past a black, wrought-iron fence. Whether it is running from something or running to catch up with something is unclear. Javelinas do like to live together, so it is possible that it was trying to catch up with its herd. The video shows the javelina from a distance. Up close, they look similar to wild boars. It has a circular snout and large head, both of which can be easily seen in this video. However, it does not have curved teeth like boars. Instead, its teeth are all vertical. Tucson is on the upper end of the javelina’s natural habitat. They are common in this area and as far south as Argentina. Javelinas live primarily in the United States but can also be found in some Caribbean islands. They are endemic to Trinidad and Tobego but now live on other islands as well. Javelinas live in environments from rainforests to mesquite deserts. They also call some urban and residential areas home. This javelina ran through this residential area in Tucson as if it knew exactly where it was going. It is quite possible that it did!
